18th Annual Meeting of the PanAmerican Society of Pigment Cell Research

描述(申请人提供)：泛美色素细胞研究学会(PASPCR)正准备于2013年9月8日至11日在威斯康星州麦迪逊举行第18届年会。这次会议的主题是“黑素细胞和黑色素瘤生物学的进展”，组委会选择的原因如下：1)有必要召开一次专门的会议，将研究黑素细胞疾病的黑素细胞生物学家和临床医生聚集在一起。虽然哺乳动物黑素细胞生物学的研究是出于更好地了解人类色素疾病发病机制的需要，但对色素细胞疾病的研究反过来又有助于揭示细胞生物学的一般和新颖方面。2)这一主题反映了威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校的独特优势，该校拥有多学科系的悠久传统和培训计划，促进了广泛领域的生物学和医学领域的研究互动，包括色素细胞生物学和黑色素瘤。2013年会议申请的具体目的是(1)在整个会议期间为基础和临床科学家提供机会，就色素疾病的发病机制和治疗，包括紫外线和黑色素在色素紊乱中的作用等广泛的主题进行介绍和互动，(2)突出细胞生物学、生物化学、免疫学、基因组学和个性化医学领域的最新进展，以及(3)汇聚来自不同背景和专业领域的专家，提供高强度的智力经验和合作机会。这个科学项目旨在容纳125-150名与会者参加为期21天的会议，其中包括5个研讨会、10个口头会议、5个海报会议、2个年轻调查人员与高级调查人员的研讨会，以及2013年亚伦·B·勒纳奖获得者的荣誉演讲。口头会议旨在为年轻研究人员提供机会，让他们根据提交的摘要介绍他们在以下领域的研究成果：黑色素沉着和转化的黑素细胞的生物学、紫外线诱导的皮肤色素沉着和皮肤癌变的变化、发育生物学和黑素细胞干细胞、对黑素细胞抗原的免疫反应，以及侧重于翻译研究的研究。组委会已经确定了来自美国和加拿大的几位基础科学家和临床专家作为特邀演讲者。被邀请的演讲者被要求提供这一主题的简要历史视角，介绍他们研究的最新发现，并强调该领域当前的挑战和机会，目的是促进基础研究人员和临床医生之间的讨论和合作。尽管PASPCR的成员参加了其他传统的以学科为导向的会议，但除了PASPCR之外，没有其他论坛将当前计划所代表的领域和利益的多样性聚集在一起。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Pan-American Society for Pigment Cell Research (PASPCR) is preparing to hold its 18th Annual meeting in Madison, Wisconsin on September 8-11, 2013. The theme for the meeting, "Advances in Melanocyte and Melanoma Biology" was chosen by the organizing committee for the following reasons: 1) There is a need for a conference dedicated to bring together melanocyte biologists and clinicians studying melanocytic disorders. While investigation of mammalian melanocyte biology is driven by the need to better understand the pathogenesis of human pigmentary disorders, investigations on pigment cell disorders in turn have helped uncover general and novel aspects of cellular biology. 2) The theme reflects a unique strength of University of Wisconsin-Madison with a long tradition of multidisciplinary departments and training programs that foster research interactions in wide ranging areas biology and medicine, including pigment cell biology and melanoma. The specific aims of this application for the 2013 conference are to (1) provide opportunity throughout the meeting for basic and clinical scientists to present and interact on wide ranging topics of pathogenesis and treatment of pigmentary diseases, including roles of UV and melanin in pigment disorders, (2) highlight recent advances in the areas of cell biology, biochemistry, immunology, genomics and personalized medicine, and (3) bring together experts from diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise to provide high intensity intellectual experience, and opportunities for collaboration. The scientific program is designed to accommodate 125-150 attendees for a 21/2 day conference that includes 5 symposia, 10 oral sessions, 5 poster sessions, 2 workshops for young investigators with senior investigators and an honorary lecture by the recipient of 2013 Aaron B. Lerner Award. The oral sessions are designed to provide opportunity for young investigators to present their research based on submitted abstracts and selected by blinded peer- review in the following areas: Biology of melanin pigmentation and transformed melanocyte, UV-induced changes in skin pigmentation and cutaneous carcinogenesis, Developmental biology and melanocyte stem cells, Immune response to melanocyte antigens, and Studies focusing on translational research. The organizing committee has identified several basic scientists and clinical experts from across the US and Canada as invited speakers. The invited speakers have been asked to provide a brief historic perspective of the topic, present latest findings from their research and highlight current challenges and opportunities in the field with the goal of stimulating discussion and collaborations between basic researchers and clinicians. Although members of PASPCR participate in other traditional discipline-oriented conferences, no forum other than PASPCR brings together the diversity of fields and interests represented in the current program.